Wednesday, 4 June 2014

The first dark morph Montagu's Harrier in Scotland - my best find since moving to Lothian in 1994

Well it looks like May 2014
provided some of my best birding ever - and that's after about 40 years
of birding to choose from! Here are some of the highlights... Pictures mainly from inland and upland Lothian and Fair Isle...

Rough-legged Buzzard - found while trying to re-locate the Monties!

Male Quail at Aberlady Bay - another find and my first ever view of the species rather than 'heard only record'

One of the highlights of the Fair Isle - awesome male 'Caspian' Siberian Stonechat

Re-finding the Hermit Thrush very early on its second day

Western Subalpine Warbler - another British tick for me on Fair Isle - took several days and a cat to locate it!

Fast declining even on Fair Isle - the Arctic Skua

Twite - even closer views in the hand for the whole group

Puffins a highlight of the Northern Isles trip for most of the group

A twitch for Avocets at Musselburgh was interrupted by this hunting Peregrine

Black Grouse were splendidly showy this month

A southern Golden Plover is presumably a local breeder

A brood of Red Grouse provided entertainment in the Lammermuirs

Although this Lapwing was far more cute

This Stoat killed a Rabbit right in front of me

Plenty of views of Redpolls - Common Redpolls in the Northern Isles and Lesser Redpolls like this one in Lothian

And, finally, gulls - my best hybrid candidate at Musselburgh - although it could be a pure LBBG (watch this space?)